Episode 33 - Kelsea Ballerini (1-24-17)

to it in a second. But it was weird because I mean, have we've known each other since? I mean I've been here really two and a half years? Probably? Yeah. Ever, I ain't funny, that's ever. But um so I started looking things up. I didn't know you were in college here. I had no idea for two years. So you moved out to Nashville at what age? Okay? So you move out here and your mom comes with you. My mom came with me. She got a job here from outside Knoxville.

From Knoxville. Yeah, so you mean she gets a job here. What is it? You're a kid and you want to move to Nashville and be an artist, and she just moved and got a new job because of that. Well it's funny. I started writing when I was twelve loved it, but I danced for ten years and then gym like gymnastics and loved that too, And so I think I

liked a lot of things. But um, I think mom kind of watched it go from like a hobby to a passion, something that I was really really committed to and not just doing in my spare time or whatever. And and so we started coming out here on the weekends and you know, whenever we could, and just meeting people and going to writers rounds and seeing what it was about. At twelve, I had my first demo session

out here when I was like thirteen years old. People back then it was when you hire a bunch of studio musicians and you like have an engineer and they come in and you play them your song. I played it on gets are Um because I didn't have a recording of it, and they do the Nashville number system, write it all down, go in, play your song like two or three times down, and then go to the next song, and it kind of turns into this big

I mean, it sounds like a record. So I did that when I was thirteen, um, and I mean was just like I thought it was the coolest thing ever. And actually, random story, there was a guy named Eddie Bear. He's a he's a drum player, huge, amazing drum player, UM studio drummer. And I remember this guy the engineer was like, listen, like, these are really big studio musicians. They're probably not going to talk to you. They're going

to go in and do what they do. You know, they probably have three of these book today, four of them book today. And so I remember being super intimidated, but like really excited. There's three songs that written by myself and they go in do their things. Sounds incredible. And afterwards Eddie Bear comes up to me. He's like, hey, who did you write these songs with? And was like, I wrote him by myself, and I just remember you looked at me. He was like keep doing what you're doing,

and he walked out. And I'll never forget it because I just was ready for no one to talk to me, and the fact that he talked to me and he validated my songwriting was like the coolest thing ever to me. And then I started playing the opery and he's now often the operaate drum player and you and I know from playing the opera too. I played it a couple of times ago, but you've told him the story to have you remembered me? Do you remember me? He wasn't there for my debut, but he was there the second

time and I walked up to him. I'm like, do you remember me? He's like, remind me? And I was like, I was like thirteen years old and I had these songs, and he was like, I do remember you. You're with your mom. And I was like, did you tell him though? What he meant to you with those few words passing? He probably doesn't remember. I did tell him absolutely, because when you're like, when you're starting out, any bit of just like validation is I mean, it's worth a lot.

Does that affect you now when you talked to new artists too, and you realize that a single sentence can change really the life? Yeah, anyone. Yeah. I'm super careful about what I say, and especially like the the outlook I give on the music industry because so many people are just like a little bitter, you know, a little grumpy, and I think it's important to not be like that. What is your outlook on the music industry. I mean, it's hard. That's I think a fair thing for anyone.

I mean, on any side of it. I'm sure you even think that, But I think that the biggest thing that I've learned is just putting the people around you that are going to make it enjoyable, you know what I mean? Like the four a m. Wake up call is the work part, not the on stage part, not the studio part. You know, that's the fun part. The work part is just like the crazy travel or the being tired every now and again. Um that's the hard part. Back to you going to college here, what you got?

I didn't know. So you're here, you're living here? Did you home school for high school? Oh? I went to high school. She went to public high school. I went to a new high school junior and senior year. It was terrible. And so because again you're new and you're new, and I was in Williamson County where everyone's like really cool and um my, the high school had uniforms. So you go to this school. Are there other artists kids there now that you look back at the time, or no,

there were no other artist kids. But there were a bunch of people that wanted to be singers. There were a lot of us. Did any of them make it out that you know that? It's still kicking around town. There's one girl, she was signed to Sony. Her name is Jordan shell Heart. We were actually friends and um, we are friends and I wrote a song on my album with there called second Hand Smoke. She's like stupid talented, So you have to high school with Yeah, I went

to high school with her. That's yeah, um, and she's like she's incredible, she's writing. Still you finished high school where you smart kids or no? Yeah? So grades wise, yeah, you're a smart kid. So you decided to go to I went to It was weird. I when I moved high school got really hard for me socially, just because I wanted to be a singer and that's why I moved here. So I was really kind of fixed on that. But grades were really important to me. I was kind

of nerdy and so, um. I ended up dual rolling into college my senior year, and so I would go to high school till before lunchtime and then everyone go to lunch and I go to college. So in your mind you're going to college to do what I didn't really know. I took a lot of classes in like communications and marketing because I kind of felt like it would help me if I got to do music, um and be an artist, and so that was kind of what I did. And then I just did like Janette

so I could. I made this deal with my mom when I moved to Nashville, and she was like, you have to stay in school until you can make some sort of a living out of music. So I just kept doing it. So you go until win not what year, but until what level of college. UM. I left after my sophomore year, so halfway. How difficult was it for you to stop one to college? Not difficult? It wasn't. So it was well, I was super ready, like you you found your calling and like you were able to

just kind of go, okay, is it. I didn't. I didn't want to go. I was really I really fought my mom on going to college. UM. Hindsight, I'm really glad I did, not just for like the education part of it, which I'm sure I learned a lot, but just for the life part of it. I feel like I needed to grow up a bit. I thought I was ready when I wasn't. And did you move to because you're talking about a close school, did you move onto campus or do you still have it home with

your mom? So my mom was in Franklin the first year I lived with my mom, and I had classes on Tuesday Thursday just like sun up to sundown. And then Monday, Wednesday Friday we're my music days. So I just kind of venture around do whatever on those days. So, okay, sophomore year, you're gonna quit school. It doesn't sound like it was a difficult decision because you found what you wanted to do, but that means you're able to make a living. So sophomore year I did. I lived on campus,

did my whole year there. Um, And I mean I took how many credits can you take? I forget now. I think I took like twenty eight credits. So I was like super busy and was still doing music. Um, it was super exhausted. My mom could see that, and I was really trying to make it work. And then I got offered a publishing deal. And so what publish you is you go when you write not just for you, and you weren't writing for you. It wasn't the artist deal.

You were just writing songs, and so they pay you a little bit of money, a little bit, a little bit of money, and you write songs and you hope that a song gets picked up by an artist, that you make money. You pay back all the money first because the money is an advance, it's a loan back. Yeah, and then you want to make more than that after because that's what you actually make. Yeah, So that's your goal. Yes, and you're writing songs that Did you write any songs

that any of the artists picked up? No? Never did you ever feel like, man, these people that are paying me to write, which, by the way, is your label, Black River, you feel like, man, maybe they're kind of losing faith in me because I have no songs. No, Because I was really upfront about wanting to be an artist, and I was fine with like doing it in two different steps, um, because I knew that I probably needed to develop a bit before I was ready to do an artist deal. But that was my that was my

end goal. Um. And so they even structured my publishing deal to it was kind of like, all right, if you get a cut on another artist, this is your percentage. Whatever. But if you are an artist and you cut one of your own songs, you get co pub this is you know what you get on this? So did they feel like you were writing for you? Do you think? I think that? I don't even I think I was writing for both, because I have songs that I wrote in that time, and even now that I'm like, I

love this song, it's just not for me. Um. But I think once we wrote love Me, that was really the first song that when we wrote that, we were like, this is like we're on something and we don't know what yet. This might be me um. And then we ended up writing like Peter Pan and all that, and that's kind of when the record deal happened. We'll get to the songs in the second when you walk to I have six people on my wall that if they called me, I would be like, what good or bad?

Good times, bad times, middle times? I would be like that makes me happy, whatever you need and and and I think four of the six have now come in. Jansen has been in, Eric Passley has been in. Maren came in a couple of weeks ago. You're up on the wall. You're probably the first, the first of all of those and then Keith and all a little big town. I don't have microphones for a little big down I have, um, but yeah, I have a wall of Philip's the talker anyways, right,

just give it to Philip. Yeah, they all have they all have their moments. But that's that's my like my wall of you know, if ever you need something, those are like the six people that I would be like, you need a kidney or whatever. So you're on the wall. There's your face and there's that. That's a really terrible picture as well. Um, you do look like one of those kids on those shows here in the headlights. Well you know those like those those kids that are like

eight but their mom puts tons of makeup on them. Yeah, what are those called? Because you're obviously really young in that it's for love? I was, I mean, was I twenty maybe whatever it is, had a baby face for a long time. I think it's not like your forty right now. I feel like I aged a lot. You've definitely, MA sure a lot in the last couple of years. Ye tell me about this here, So you're talking about writing the song. Yeah, where are you talking about? The room?

Who's in the room? This was such a random mistake song. Um, that wasn't a mistake we had. We were writing at Black River. I was writing with um Josh Kerr that day and um, Forest was writing with a guy named Lance Carpenter that day. Um. And so we all get done with our rights and we're like, hey, should we try to all write together? Like we're all kind of so you wrote separately, and they came together on this one.

It was our second song of the day and UM, yeah, So we got together and we ordered soul Shine and we just kind of pizza. Yeah. Um, and we kind of just posted up in like the the big lobby area of the label, um, the upstairs by the fireplace, you know. Um and so yeah, and it was kind of no pressure and we were sitting there, we were catching up. We all we didn't really get a lot of time together and um yeah, we're just talking, hanging out and I think the first thing that came out, well,

Forest actually who ended up producing the whole record. Um, he's like my musical partner. He's just that person for me that I feel like it's my better half and has really become that. And especially now even working on the next record, is that even more so but um, he was like, Hey, we're listening to Take a Bow

by Rihanna. I love pop music, and so we're listening to that song and he was like, I really feel like you should try to to do like that swag that she does how she kind of like laughs after she says a sassy lion all that stuff. And I was like, I just don't know if I can pull that off. You know, I didn't know because I was I mean, I was nineteen at the time, maybe and I don't know, just insecure an awkward and UM. So

he's like, let's just try it. And he started playing the debt but a Dead Dada on the guitar and and then we were all kind of like that if you're gonna, don't know if you're gonna. We just loved that done on a kind of melodic thing and um, and then we literally just wrote it like thirty minutes, and uh, I don't think we really thought anything of it other than it was fun. But the moment for me that I remember was Forest did a demo for it, um, and I sang the demo. So he did like a

basic track like guitar beat. I sang it like the next day, and then he did a demo for it, like built around my vocal and said it to me, I mean maybe a week and a half later, and I remember putting on my headphones listening to this demo, being like, that's special. And I don't know why, because it's not lyrically genius or anything, you know, but it's special to me. And um in the label felt the same way about it. So and it got pitched around

town to which I didn't know till later. So they were trying to give the song to some other people. I didn't know that because I wasn't signed yet. Yeah, and um as you weren't okay, good, This is all putting it into it to a place now. You weren't signed as an artist when you wrote this song. It's fair than they pitch it. Yeah, well yeah, yeah to you, it may not feel fair, but I was so up. Guys,

this is the first one. I get it completely, But looking at everyone thought it was way too pop. And I think, and this is a kind of a weird place for you right now, and so I'm really anxious and listen, I've heard some of your You've sent me some stuff on your second album and I'm exous for it to come out because it's going to paint a new you, because what what's happened with you as you created this new niche in the format and now a bit. I don't think it's I don't think you're being penalized

for it. But I think this is your one record and it got so big that people only know you as the pop country girl. So now it's your goal and this is just me talking, and it's your goal with the second record to show your depth. Do you feel that, Yes, I think that just talking super honestly, like I think that this first record, it was really heavily embraced by radio, which was really epic. But I think in doing that the industry absolutely it made you

not cool. It made me really not cool, and so it was awesome because I was like radio's girl, which I love, and I mean I did a twenty two week radio tour. I mean like that means for those who don't know, she's going to morning shows and radio stations at five in the morning and singing and it's miserable and it is and you're dealing. It's just and you're going city to city the little station a little station every single day doing the same thing over and

over and over and over again. Yeah, and it and it it's it's paid off and it's been amazing and that relationship has been amazing. But I think in in that happening how it did, it made Nashville kind of be like, but what a place to be because you're right, you put out this record and it it breaks records and sets new standards and here you are, You're all over all over TV. But you know how industry snooty

can be. So to the industry like they you know, you're not that cool, but everybody in the world you're the coolest thing ever. And it's a weird dynamic because you're blowing up. But then the people that are at home, you're like that you want to to like be like, oh kelcy um. So you're like, oh, they don't think I'm cool because my song sound poppy. It was. It's

a huge and security of mine. Yeah, And and the thing for me like my biggest goal right now, and like I'm in Nashville right now, like I have two and a half weeks to finish my record essentially, and I'm writing twice a day. I'm writing after this I wrote this morning, like I'm just like trying to drain myself of that because if anything, like, I just want people to know I'm a songwriter on this next album. That's the most important thing to me. And what's funny.

You're such a long writer, you know. I mean I used to play yourself and I know, and we would drive for hours and hours and hours and you would play songs, and you're very much a songwriter. But I saw it as it was happening, and as you were exploding. I saw you exploding in one way and becoming industry less cool at the same time. And it's such a

weird anomaly. It's so weird, like the bigger you got but you screw them, because I'm gonna tell you in a sort of way that that's happened to me too, where it's like, you know what, I'm just gonna be me and that's really all you can be. It's yes, it's Carrie, Carrie her Khalil line. This sounds so lame, but her trademark or whatever is stay the path, Stay

your path. And I'm like, I always have to tell myself that because I'm always comparing myself to every other chick artists, and I'm like, dude, just like do what you're doing. But you know, it's funny every chick artist compare themselves to you now and you probably don't feel that way, but they do. And I and I get to talk to a lot of them. They all are like, man, I just really want to do what Kelsey does. And you are that. You're the next You're the first of

the next wave. And that's it's pressure too. It's a lot of pressure too, because you have to put out a second record and the next record that you really do. It's a lot of pressure. But the good thing for you is you also you create your content. You're not just not picking and and that's a and that's a different skill sell setting itself. But you're right, and a

lot of people don't. Yeah, So you can actually create your own path, which even if you lose, if you're creating your own path, at least you lose at least you lose. By creating, you don't have to get someone else's boat and sink. You get to build your own boat and sink. And there's so much more into that than it is just falling with it. So um, love me comes out yeah, love it comes out wonderful song. Who picks it? By the way, like when it was across the board, we just knew we we had a meeting,

just I think for the sake of having a meeting. Um, and we all sat around and I don't even know if I had management at the time. I don't think I had management. Yet you didn't because your management I remember meeting you're now manager in St. Louis when he came to one of our Yes, you're right, you're right. So I didn't have management. It was just me in my label and we all which is not a good place to be, by the way, you want to always have someone there. But again, you pick a good song,

good to go. Yeah, And so we listened to three songs. We had a song call looking at Stars the first time and I love me and listen to all three and then we all went around the table and voted and everyone said love me and and then I guess they already knew that was going to happen. So then we they had all these like cool bracelets made that said let me like you meet it on UM. It was a cool moment. Yeah, Mike, we need to go to Blue Apron Ober second. All right, okay, so about

Blue Apron. Blue Apron is the number one fresh ingredient recipe delivery service in the country. Their mission is to make incredible home cooking accessible to everybody. It comes to my door. When you walked in, you saw the Blue Apron box by the way, and all the ingredients are in the box, and even the seafood it's sourced sustainably under standards developed with the montereybi Aquarium Seafood Why so, I mean, like this is real deal stuff. They're proportioned,

you'll cook at home. You can do it. I was like a thing to do together or you can do it yourself and not tell anybody. And all of a sudden, you're like a super chef. So like there's build a bond right there. I use Blue Apron. I love Blue Apron. Uh mills that are upcoming, spicy shrimp and Korean rice caked with cabin Like you would never make this stuff

in your life, but Blue Apron allows that. So Blue Apron dot Com slash Bobby Right, it's all right, Blue Apron dot Com slash Bobby Alright, So um, let's talk about your second single. So DIBs comes out, and how did that one get picked? Did you go into a meeting a vote but they already had like a bunch of DIBs hats. You know, it's funny. I don't. I

don't even really remember having a meeting about Dibbs. I think, yeah, UM, when I when I did my radio tour, we played three songs acoustic every station visit, and it was loved Me, Dibbs, and Peter Pan. So I think we always knew that those were three um, and we knew that we needed to be really careful on Peter Pan. And I think that love Me set us up to kind of do something and we didn't know what it was yet, but I think that we needed to re establish that sound

before we changed it. I think that was our our theory with that, because Love Me was such a left of center song sonically, and Dibbs kind of had that same tempo, that same feel um And a lot of people will criticize that and said it was the same song, and in some ways it kind it is. But you know what's weird and you say that, I'm gonna just say, okay, it had the same field. It was left of center. You said at the time it was and now it's not,

and now it's not. Yeah, absolutely like and all of these are artists that end up making it in pop and not in pop. They make it because they pop, it's because what they were doing was left of center at the time. I talked to Sam Hut today and

Sam and I have become oddly friendly. Youer than just than no, not not romantically, but but more than just a radio host and an artist because like me, Sam is very like like if we're not on, we're not on, and we we like our time to write, and like I'll send my room before hours just right, jokes are right, are working on the book and so but we were talking today and I was like, just for a second, like, think about everybody that told you that your sound was

not going to work, and he was like most people to even my own people told me it wasn't gonna work because it was so left center. But he's like, it was it was what I wanted to do, and I was gonna go down with my own thoughts. And so as you say left the center, now you've created it in the middle, like you were the one that

made this the middle sound. It's cool to think about you're the one that I mean I can like Lauren a great friend of mine, Laura Lena, like she's able to put out that song because I've loved me like you mean it. Bro Let's travel is able to come out because I loved me like you mean it. I saw her well. I I saw a clip of her singing Peter pan Careoki the other day and I thought

it was the coolest thing I've ever seen. By the way, No, Laura Lena does not get the credit she deserved for being one of the best singers in town periods, dumb period now. And I was like, please don't actually sing that song because no one's gonna want me to sing it anymore. So she's so good and she's also a really a good songwriter, and you don't and I oddly have and because I you know, my kids music and comedy music, and she's quick man, and Lauren's been into

before and it's just a great person. So but you just saying left the center put me on that. It's not even more. You've made it middle and so now, but what you're gonna do, because you're gonna take another sound and go left again with this next record, because one you can have the ability to, and too, you have to have to. And so okay, so Dives comes out, it goes number one, which was doesn't give me the surprise. If it really wasn't a surprise, well, listen, this is

what happened. So it was a really tough song. Dives was our toughest song because radio liked it and during radio tour they were like, is this gonna be a single or like yeah, we think it'll be second, but um, it didn't sell well really and um, and then when it got up to the top like five, which we were stoked about because we didn't know if it was gonna happen because it got stuck in the thirties for

a while. Um, it got up to the top five, and Granger had just gone number one with on the Verge and he was pushing for a second week, and it was the week that we were trying to push for number one, and it went down to the very last hour of the art and I remember being like, okay, like you're getting number two and that's fine, Like you're fine. And I was at home in my old apartment getting my hair done. I had foils in my hair and as I got closer and closer. Megan, our friend Megan

was sending me I was with Megan that night. We were in and Austin. You were doing a stand up comedy. We were all together that night. Okay, yes, waiting to see if do you remember how close it was? No, I'm telling you. I finished the show because because it's midnight, Pacific time is what counts, because Eastern comes in. Yes, it's like the new Ryan Seacrest New Year's Like, you're going all the way down. And I finished my stand up comedy show at like thirty or eleven, which you

mean it's nine Pacific. So they're like, we're going to the bar and waiting and watching the charts. It was hectic. I just remember, as we got closer and closer, Megan's like, we might get it. It's still really close. So I started inviting some of my friends over just in case it happened, just a cause it didn't, you know. And so before I knew it, like I have like thirty people in my time, a little one bedroom apartment, foils in my hair and I get the call and they're like,

we got it. It's number one, and um and I have a video of all of it, and then Hunter Hayes was over Um with the girlfriend Libby and he like made this beautiful toast and like it ended up being like the coolest night of my life because we were just like, is this going to happen? We don't know if we're going to get it, and we got it and ended up being like a really cool celebration. And having two number one gives you the ability to fail next and still have some strong feed yeah, And

that's why we risked it with Peter Pan. And it was a risk because one year a girl yeah and too it's a it's a ballot, yeah, and at the and even now that's not the safest thing. But really back but then when we're talking even a year ago, it really wasn't a safe play at all. And there was a lot of mid tempo and slow ballads on radio at the time. It was when they all started

to come out of the sad time. Yes song, Oh man, this was like I feel like we all knew that this was our, like our song that would change the game, and it did, and I think in different ways than we really even knew. But Um, I wrote this song with Jesse Lee and Forest who I wrote with today actually randomly. Um, and I remember was my first rite with Jesse. And I remember Jesse as an artist when

I moved to town. Her video was on G A C and seems for It's a Girl Thing, and um, I thought she was so talented and it was my first art with her, so I was super stoked. And do you know Jesse at all? She is a spit fire. I mean comes in the room black of bold dozer in the best way possible. So I was kind of like letting her take the room. And um, she was like, I had this idea, Um, but if we don't write it, well, I'm gonna go ride it somewhere else. I just want

you guys to know that straight up. And we were like okay. And I think her doing that and timid in Timid dated us a bit, but it also kind of put this pressure in the room, um, and like this challenge in the room of writing a really good song. And she was like Peter Pan that the boy who doesn't grow up. Um, that's that's my idea. And we loved it and and wrote it really quick, I think, and it was one of those songs that we just wanted to keep singing over and over in the room

like no one was ready to leave yet. Um, which was cool. I have trouble with your next song, and not for a reason you would expect, but um, and whenever you hear that, because people listen to these months later. But as we're doing this, Bobby cast your singles, yeah boy, I don't know how to say it was saying yeah boy. I don't know if it's like yeah boy, yeah boy, yeah boy. So on the radio, I don't see the name of it. I'm just like why because it's like

there's yeah boy, just say it. Just feels I could do that, just calling did you call Peter Pan Peter pants your pants? Yeah? You just say it, just call it ceaseor no, because some people will be like what are you doing? People get mad at everything I do. Anyway, all right, so on the right now, this this is your song on so this one here, just give me a story. Um, you know it's the last song that we're gonna release from this album. And UM, I think the whole heartbeat of the album I put out was

very young. A lot of it was very flirty. Um, you were also young and flirty, thought, I mean, it was absolutely absolutely, and I think, I mean, even what you've heard this next record is not that at all, and so I think that it was kind of us being like, let's circle back and end it how we started it before we kind of move on to something else. Um, which has been really fun because it's it's fun to see the fans that initially reacted with love me be like, oh,

this is my this is my favorite song on the record. Yeah, we've been waiting for this, you know. That's been fun to see. My favorite song on the record is one that did not come out of the single, just because it was like, you know, I'm a weird person that doesn't always fit, but I love the square pat you did. You can see that was the last time we wrote everybody gata everybody, everybody sales and the world go round.

Like that's like I sound like a kid, yeah, said, I mean this whole record though, Kelsey, you're talking about you. You've grown up, I mean a lot in the last three years. Like it's been kind of while to watch the ascent and again this your next record is gonna make you even older to people because it's far more mature and this you needed this first record, Oh gosh, I'm proud of it, of it, and I know you don't feel cool because it's poppy. But I didn't change

the game. The completely changed the game. You would not be here without this sound. The radio would not sound like it does without this sound. And I wouldn't heat this false praise on you, but I would just talk about it. Um. So yeah, like it's good. If you put out a second record like this, I'll be like, all right, Kelsey. I mean I think everyone wouldn't say that. Well,

So you ever hard to carry Underwood? Um? Not often, like we we've texted here and there, um, but not often because she puts out songs that she she walks that line a pop song and and and also Carrie just doesn't give a crap she does. I know Miranda gives credit for not giving a crab, but Carrie doesn't give Carrie does hes her lane like you said earlier. And this isn't even to go back about that comment. But you know, getting to know carry a bit, it's

like focus forward. This is what I do. I'm just going to do it. That's the best thing. And it's hard to do. It's so hard to do with a million voices. It's really hard to do, and especially being like a young girl, it's hard to just like look ahead like, um no, I don't know her well, UM, but I remember I met her. I went to her Khalia fashion show in New York actually, um, maybe a year and a half ago, and Um I went backstage and gave her a hug, and she was like, Hey,

here's my number if you ever need anything. And she's texting me a couple of times, like when my grandparents passed away, she texted me and UM a couple of times. She's she's really cool. But we've never like hung out. We're not bros. So early seventeen right now, in the life cycle of this record, what's been the coolest give me a moment? Let's say, give me what's the first thing that comes to my want to go, give me

a moment of the album. I don't care just in the last since the album, because you've got to do a lot of things. Yeah, there's been a lot. Give me the first one that comes to line. The most rewarding thing I've gotten to do is headlining tour. And I didn't when my management came to me like a year and a half ago, and there like we want you to headline the end of two thousand and sixteen. I was like, you guys are crazy, You're crazy, Like

it's not gonna happen. Um. And I didn't think I was I could put together like a seventy minute show. I didn't think I could do that. Um. It was the most rewarding thing I've ever done, because you get so used to having your like forty minute slot with two pillar songs that people know, and then the rest you're kind of like just trying to get people to

just even pay attention to you. Um. And with this tour, we had venues that were like I think it was like twelve cap rooms sold out, that they knew songs that I hadn't even put out yet, every word to them, and to me, it just made me feel like the whole record meant something and had a life that was bigger than just the songs that I got to put out a singles, which was it was really cool. You

know what else? As I sit here and think, because I watched from a thousand feet up, sometimes what you're doing and your socials and I'm a fan of artists period, in regardless how big they are, Like I like like like people trying things, and I like people doing things when people they stopped doing them just because they feel it.

And you talk about pop music in a second, and I love the fact that you're just like, I love pop music because I like listen, I I love hip hop, come, I love you know there are these things and I'm just it's just who I am. And the fact that you hop on Instagram And I was watching Instagram have you doing the chain Smoker's parents other night? And I was like, the fact that she's still doing this just because she likes to do it. That's much cooler than

anything else. Because for your whole career, whatever it is, people are always going to tell you you're not this is not the cool thing to do. Forever. You're forever gonna be told you should be doing something else. And the person surround yourself with the best people and then listen to the the best person, which is you. And I like to do that because I know that you get that you're not cool. Sometimes sometimes the haters too, because you're blown up. Do you know? Do you do

you know how fast you you're blown up? And how abnormal it is. What's what's really interesting is I I know, but I don't really know. Does that make sense? I know because people are telling me, and I know because it's been two years and I feel like it's been ten. But the first big proper break I've gotten was this Christmas. I had like a week off for Christmas and two weeks in Australia and I got home. I had thirty six hours at home, did a did a cover shoot

for Billboard. I don't think that's I'm not supposed to say that that happened. And then I literally got on a country cruise, which you're on a cruise with fans for five days to perform. And then I got home and so I was like jet lagged and like really kind of like WHOA where it? Like I need to be home for a second. I feel like I need

to get centered for a second. And I went through with management every day of this year what I had going on, and I got really intimidated by my life because I just got to be a human for like a month, and I didn't really think about music too much, um because I needed to like have some experience to live and write about, and like just a lot of stuff happen. I got engauged and stuff like that. So I just want to kind of go away for a minute.

And I literally sat with management. I was like, I don't I don't think I can do this, Like I'm really intimidated by this, and it makes me feel really insecure and like I don't know how this happened, you know, and like the start of my year really is the Grammys. I'm like, how do I ease into the Grammys? I

don't know how to do this? And so that's been like, uh, I think the first time that I've really felt like, whoa, this did happen fast, because now you're feeling the things that you probably should have been feeling a year ago, like that that intimidation. You know, do you worry that you're gonna let people down? Um? No, because no one thinks I'm cool, So I don't really work different the

people that that assigned coolness, they don't matter yea. And you know this because you got it, like you understand it. And I think you've had some great people that have taught you this is that do you know matters that people that buy the music yea, on to the shows. That's who matters. That's who really tells you if you're cool or not. And I had the same thing. Like people can tell me I saw writ blogs about how

terrible I am. But when I go do a stand up show or I could do writing ideas show where I go, those are the only people that matter. And you know this, and and it's a it's a rare thing, and that's who matters. That's why I think that tour was so rewarding for me because I was like, I am cool right now. It weren't a bubble that we sometimes don't see out of because we're in Nashville. Everybody it's a it's a small town but speaking and everybody's

in it telling you how cool that someone else is. Y. Yes, but in reality, and you do a great job at this to the coolest person is the person that comes out and show support because we wouldn't be able to do what we do. Yeah, none of it without people spend they go to work and have jobs and like spend their money on you as an escape. Eight. That's cool.

It is cool. Yeah, it is cool. And uh and and don't lose sight of that because you will get pulled in eighty directions to be told a hundred things, and I'm telling you, trust me. I get bashed constantly, but FM, you know yeah, because you know, it's just it's all about for me, it's all about the listener. Like if they start to if I start to be a douchebag, or I get high horsey or it's like wow, don't then I'm like, I gotta pull I gotta pull

it back. You listen to them because it's like, you know, dance with a girl that brought you and so that's you talk about getting engaged and that. How about that? What happened? Huh, let's talk about that. I mean, you're young, Yeah I am. I am, you're young. When are we talking about getting ready? Like ten years, there'll be one of those long we haven't talked about it. I like, um, I never have thought about like a wedding or getting married before. It's never been on my haven build a

picture's board of not my thing. I have dreamt about, like what my tour will look like, not what my wedding will look like. And he's the best I love so much and I'm stoked to marry him, but like that's not the things that we're thinking about right now. We have people in our lives, um that we shared that we're close to. And I the first thing I did, I was like, Okay, that's like Kelsey get engaged. Is she pregnant? Who? It doesn't matter here, Oh god, it

doesn't matter. But no, I know you're not. And if if I thought you were or she said you know he or he said yes, I wouldn't have asked that question. But I was like, is she pregnant? Because because I wanted to be happy for you, but you're not pregnant. I'm not No, no, no, that's right now. You're not pregnant. You didn't get engaged because you were pregnant. Not that there's anything wrong with that, but that's what I thought. When I saw it, was like, huh, it's been pretty quick.

Like when you met him, you went over in March, it's been like ten and a half months. And so you go over and you meet him doing the awards show because he lives in Nashville. He's lived in Nashville for like a year and a half um where I guess like two years now. But yeah, he actually had come over and interviewed, um, all the artists that were

going over for that The cmafest before. So I didn't remember him because I was in a relationship and whatever, And so he interviewed me, and I gets he texted his friend that day and said, I met a lot today. I don't even remember him. Okay, do you have a screenshot? His friend is the one who told me. But do you have the screenshot? I don't have the screenshot. I didn't know how dudes are Mike? Are you with? I mean he didn't work out. It doesn't work out. Well, yeah,

but I don't remember that before anybody else. He he was like me, like we were like, hat, it's been fun. See you gonna go work now, you know, like just not relationship people wolf. Um, but yeah, no, we hosted the show together and I'll start and um, i've been together since and you came back, came back and then you started dating. Yeah yeah, I I didn't know that he lived in Nashville. Um, when we hosted the show together. And was it? Did you fall from like that? Like that?

You really didn't? Yeah? Good looking dude, Ah he is. He's so hot, but he's just like a proper good human like he he's a good like h Yeah, you have to hang out with him, you really what he's the best. I'm gushing and stop talking about no, no, gush away. It's it's a rare thing, it really to

find someone worthy. My parents like are super super divorced, and I think that's probably why I was like kind of like, oh, I wasn't two to your relationships before, and you could not have paid me to even say the word marriage, Like I just would never think about that because as also, I'm a kid and I love what I do and I'm busy and like that's kind of what my life is. And when I thought it was all about and um, yeah, when I met him, I was like, whoa, You're going to change my life?

Did you know he was going to propose? Uh? We had talked about wanting to get married, that we knew that we wanted to be with each other forever. And he's thirty one. Well he's older than I thought. He's he's older than me. Um, and I know he was older than you. Yeah, look at him. Listen. I think I'm eight years older than my girlfriends. So you know, I'm not wander There's nothing wrong. I feel like I'm twenty three and I have moments of acting like I'm

eighteen now that's crazy to me. I know, I have moments of acting like I'm eighteen still, but I also have moments like I feel like my my real life is like I need I need to be about thirty five all the time, Like I need to act like I'm like thirty five all the time. You've had to grow up a lot quickly. But I'm telling you grew up like quickly though you at a younger age too. Mean, Listen, it wasn't like you had this uh Brady bunch of type family because and you know you've talked about that

a bit with your mom and dad splitting up. And your mom lives here. My mom is in Franklin. Yeah, she lives in Franklin, not Nashville, but like minutes Yeah, not far at all. My dad's in Knoxville, so where I'm from. And so that's where you go when you put on the pajamas. No, that's mom's Franklin. Yeah, that's her favorite thing. It's for all you guys to put

on the footsie pajamas. Yeah, why do you? She makes her so happy, And I think she thinks that everyone hates it, so she makes a big deal out of it. And so we all just kind of act like we hate it, but then we're like posting pictures because we think it's so fun. So you start working on this next record. How long ago. I've been through a lot

of phases with this album. I've I mean, I probably wrote the first time we had written for it is a song called Graveyard, which I think I sent you, and UM, I don't even know the First Time was out yet when we had that song writing. I mean, we've we've been for it. I've probably written like maybe maybe two songs, and we've cut some, scrapped them. We've used a couple of different producers didn't work out. UM, So we've really kind of gotten to experiment a bit

more with this one. UM. But you know what the coolest part was, I went back to like the producers that did the first time, and they're my friends, and it's I don't know, it just worked because you can be honest with them. I can be honest with them and like they they created the sound that the first Time is and I think that that's really valuable, you know, And it was really cool to be able to try different producers and then learn that like they bring something

really special. Um, and I don't think I appreciated that as much as I probably should have, And now I do because I know you get the call that you've been nominated for Best New Artists, UM, just be real. Did you think that you would be one of the five nominees. Honestly, it was really important to me. It was really important to me. Did you feel like it lessened to your chances that Maren existed and she came on strong? Because I did, I was like, oh, man,

is really cool. Ye are way cooler than they are commercial absolutely people even heard of. And I love music, and I'm like, who is this? The thing? The thing about me and Maren and we're friends, We're not super close. I would love to be close with her. Um. But the thing about Maren is, if there's any other I don't want to say this, I'm glad it's me and her. Like I'm glad I'm in competition with her because she's so talented and her record is probably my most played

record of the year. UM. And I think that hopefully once we get out of all the new categories, it'll be just like Carrie and Miranda where they live in completely different lanes. But I think that people put us up against each other. Right now, we're the new girls, and we're female, and we're in the new artist you

know what I mean. So right now I think we're up against each other a lot, which again I'm stoked at her because she's really good, and that means that I'm in the same category as someone who's really good, which I'm stoked about. Um. And I think that eventually, as we keep putting out music, hopefully we keep just growing into those positions. Is like a Carrie and Miranda. We're just in different lanes. You know. It's such a weird dynamic because you have all these number one songs.

Was that rude? I didn't mean to be rude, There's no there's a god. I don't want to be I'm a huge fan of hers. I didn't want to sound me. It's not a very competent I know. I tell you to and I'll call you on and be like, hey, well and everything's about honestly here. Um. And I love Marin's record too. Yes, holy crap. Once, I can't with that song. It's for the Grammys. First of all, I think are the one You're gonna win the award. You're

gonna balance, You're gonna kill each other. I think that's who I think, Yeah, because I just did the logic of it, because here is how to break it down, and I think you guys cancel each other out enough to where it doesn't Um, who's a rock group and it could have been the Chain Smokers, but it's they're a pop group. And again, the Grammys aren't about commercial. Actually go away from that and people vote. I'm a voter.

I'm a Grammy voter, and I'm probably the only one who voted for like all the pop stuff, you know, because I just know. So. I think you guys listen for the format. I would love if either one of you wanted. Yeah, it's a big deal that we're both nominated in. It crazy that you both are. I thought it was gonna be one of the two of you. Yeah, I was like, I wonder which one it's going to and knew it will be one of you. It. Um, Yeah, it's a big deal there. There's never been two country

artists in that category, let alone two chicks. It's a big deal. Um, which in itself feels like a victory, you know. Um, Yeah, I'm not I'm not prepared to win that. I know that and I'm cool with that. Yeah, so they they did the things. They don't call your name. How do you feel? I mean it happened before that. Were you hurt by that? Um? I mean as much as much as you should hurt. When I lose that it crushes me on the side. I'll be honest, I

hate it the rewards thing and I don't win. I'm like, I'm a complete loss and a failure, and then it it motivates me to do more. But I would be honest, it sucks to lose. Yeah, I mean I try to be really practical going into these kind of things because a words are cool, like I have couple there on a shelf. It's really fun to show my friends. Um, but it doesn't. I mean, I'm down with my three number ones. It makes me really happy. That makes me

really happy. Um. And I I don't know I was bombed, but I was also like, it makes me it's good, it's fine. I would have been bombed. I'd have been I would have been like, don't you really realize to have number one songs? Like what just the human part of might have been like, what what do you guys do? Wing? Like how I'm performing. I've got three number ones? Why why am I not? If? I think, if anything, it probably just fed into that, like I'm not cool. People

don't think it absolutely. I think that's probably the more of the feeling rather than like oh they don't like me, or like oh they don't think I'm good. It's like I'm just not cool, you know. That's kind of I think the insecurity you don't think you know what the coolest thing is, though, period is not caring. I know I'll get there. I'll get there. I'm not there yet, though I'm okay to say that. I don't think anyone

ever fully gets there. Especially artists were so emotional. We're just it's just weird when you create, you're so vulnerable because we create and then every and and I'm not comparing what I do to you, but we create in different lanes. Yeah, Like I wrote that stupid book, and I was like Jesus man, like I'm putting it all out there and people are gonna tell me I suck or I'm good, or you're vulnerable because you created something, and then it's up to everybody else to critake it.

And they could take it with their money or their mouths or their keyboards. And we depend on those critics eeeks to eat, no like mortgages, engagement rings you, Um, Michael, we got you who are doing a right Let's talk about on hundred flowers all right. If you're listening right now, if you have a new relationship and you're like, I gotta impress Valentine's Day, or you're in a relationship and you still gotta impressive Valentine's Day, let me talk about

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inner bones click the inner bones. Alright, cool, all right, So you have a fiance, you got a new record coming out. Yeah, I want to know about this fiance for a second. Okay, like, what's his deal? Which part? What do you want to know? Let's talk about his music, because he's an artist. I've never I've never heard him saying do you want to hear him saying I'm not against it? I mean I wouldn't be like, let me out of your Yeah I could. I mean yes, it'd

be weird for me. It'd be tough for me to be with another artist if I didn't respect what they did. I've always said I would never be with another artist because it's weird. I've dated a songwriter before. It's competitive, it's like awkward, and it's it's just not it's just so. I opened for him in Australia too, which was kind of cool to like, flip that and then he opened for you on your headlining tour. UM, who does it

get competitive? I wonder? I mean if he goes out and doesn't have six because most artists don't have success initially, most artist aren't Kelsey. I mean is that I'm just not worried about it. I think he's like, he needs to be successful for you. I think that he he will be successful for me, whatever that means. But I'm so worre. He's so talented and he's everyone loves him that meets him, and so I think that it'll work out how it's supposed to work out for him. He's

a really good entertainer. I think that's his strongest suit, Like he writes and all of that. He's a great singer, but he's a really really great entertainer, Like, help me put part of my last show together. What's his deal then? Musically? Is right? Right now? Is the on a label? He's on Warner Australia, UM, and then he's not on a Nashville label yet yet. Yeah, should make black rivers on them? Just nord pass. Yeah, that's interesting. You have to are I mean, listen if it were it's a it's a

difficult juggling act to be with someone else creative. I'm going to do the same thing. Yeah, you just GE's just too creative people. And but it's also like I think as long as you can separate it, Like there are times where I'm like I need you to tell me what to do in this situation, or like I need your opinion on this, like put your business hat on his name. By the way, that we have never

said his name. His name everybody can google. Um. Yeah, but we also will be like, let's just not talk about anything to do with what we do tonight, Like let's talk about our family or friends or something else, like a stupid YouTube video. It doesn't matter anything. Um. And it's cool to be able to like do either. You know, what do you guys have fun doing together?

What's what's like yours? We travel? We love to travel. Yeah, yeah, we went to um, Hawaii and then we went to Paris and Florence and then like even stuff like Black Gray Farm, like right down the road, just a little getaways, really really good. Fair to say you're making money now finally, Um, this year I started to make a little money. Yet people think when you have a song on the radio immediately become some crazy millionaire. It's opposite. I mean, most

artists I know lose money. It's so hard for a long time. The first year, and I remember, this is so caned. I'm getting so much trouble for this radio tour was the hardest time of my life because I was working so hard, um, and for myself, like I was doing it for me, you know, but I was exhausted. And you don't get paid, but everyone around you does. And I happened to be dating my guitar player at the time, so he is getting paid and I wasn't.

And I remember there was one time where I couldn't pay my rent when I got home, um, and it was actually it was during my opera debut and all my family and friends were there, and I was like, dude, I asked my parents to pay my rent, like what do I do? And ended up something cool happened. But what happened, I don't know if he'd want me to say someone someone showed up and did it for me, someone that you'll probably take that and help someone else

in the same way. Yeah, he's like the coolest person. Yeah it was not you that perfect. Uh yeah, but um ready. I mean yeah, that whole time is so hard because you have to support the people that are there to support you, but essentially you're working for yourself, you know, and it's it's really it's really tough, really tough. You're I'm proud of you, so proud. She's my date to the Grammys. We're going shopping next week. Oh man,

that's to call that a tough call. I know you and your mom were close, and your mom moved out here when you're fifteen. We made a deal. When I was like, if you made a deal, we made a deal. We made a deal. I mean, you just got engaged. No, I know he's gonna be out there with me just for my sanity purposes, but um yeah, no, I made a deal with my mom was like fourteen, because we used to watch the Grammys together and I was like, when I get to go to the Grammies, you're gonna

come with me. You're gonna be my date. And so then it actually happened. So she's my date. That's cool. Yeah, I'm stoked, and she's proud. Does she have pictures up of you? Like all through the years that she makes me these scrap books like Shutterfly scrap books. She made me one for Christmas. And this is so embarrassing. My trainer was over this morning and the books propped up on my shelf and I'm like, hey, look at me with brown hair, and she was like, that's you, jeez,

baby fat. And I was like, you're hardcore though, like she was in the military. She is a boss lady for she's um yeah, she's hardcore. She's hardcore. Yeah, um yeah. So my mom keeps all the pictures. That's fun. It's fun to have someone that's been there and your mom moved, moved for you, I know, I know for you as a kid. And I think as you get older too, you'll and when you have kids, you'll probably be liked.

I appreciate that, Like I get it. It's cool too, because she had just started dating her now husband in Knoxville, um, like six months before we moved, and so they kept dating. They don't like they just met started dating. We moved, and then they dated long distance for like seven years. I would say they dated mid distance mid distance Yeah yes, sorry, I distance really for seven years and now he lives out here in the marry and stuff. So what was

it like playing back in Knoxville Theater. It was cool. It's so funny because I knew that there were a lot of people in the audience that like my choir director was there, which like I mean, I could have just died that she was there. Um, my parents were there. Um, A lot of my friends were there. But then there were also like my ex boyfriend was there. Um my like the Peter Pant like high high school. Um uh.

There were a couple of people that like, and it happens because you hear the story at the time, but like that, um, aren't really your friends. And then all of a sudden you have a song on the radio and they're like, Kelsie, here's a picture of us, and you're like seven people away from each other, you know what I mean. Um, there were like a lot of

those people there too. So I remember before I went out on stage, I was like, do it for do it for your friends, and do it for your family, but like, do it for the people that are here that like I didn't think you could do it, you know. And I went out and I swear I never like flipped my hair that hard in my life. Like I just went out there and turned it into some one else.

But and I was so proud of myself because I thought I was gonna be so emotional, and I just like I did the best show I've probably ever done. And then for the encore, I walked out, um into the audience. We always like pick a spot, never know who's gonna be around it. To pick a spot. I walk out with my guitar to play the first time, and I'll walk out and it's my second show of

the whole tour. It's my hometown in the theater that my dad used to live above, and I would sneak down into like it's I saw a little big down there I saw. I was like, I mean, it's just like a super special place to me. And I look up and my dad's right in front of me, and to my best friends are like to my right. And then Forest and Jason Mass and my producers surprised me and drove in and they were like on my on my left, and I just looked up at them and

I started a bawling. I mean, just like I couldn't even get my my words together. Um. And while it's embarrassing, like why while it's happening, it's a cool moment to look back on. You know, are you writing with tonight? I'm writing with Jimmy Robbins and a chick name Mozilla. She wrote, I came in like, go backing Ball. Oh yeah, yeah. We wrote two days ago and we got two songs and three hours we were like, let's do this again. It's funny. You know, my you sing wrecking Ball. I've

become friends with Jesse Alexander. She and she she wrote the climb, but she's not real, not real. I saw her again because I went, um, and I don't I don't get to go to a lot of things. But I went and went to watch Derek's play. There I saw a picture of you. I never I never saw you, but I saw a picture of you at the end. But so I want to watch Drek's And I saw her back there and one on like the A C. M board together and we've got to kind of know

each other. And you sing wrecking But she wrote Miley cyrus as a climb, which when she sings her husband are both songwriters. Um. But when she sings that, it's so good. But she wrote, you know, le Bryce, I drive your truck, which I think most country people would go to that first, but I'm always like you sang the climb from Miley Biggest hand on Montana fan, Oh gosh, did you ever go to handa Onontana shows show? Yes, and Jonas Brothers opened really Oh yeah, Knoxville Thomson Boling Arena, yep,

they were. That was when I was doing pop radio like the Jonas Brothers people would, I mean, that's how I was. I was like a camp out Jonas Brothers fan Nick played with me on the as Keep everybody country, don't. You can't say anyone country in this nice question growing up? Eliminate all country, just your favorite artists. Give me three artists that you loved, not country, not country. My first concert was Brittany. Um I this makes me sound probably weird.

I loved like Frank Sinatra. My dad listened to him all the time in the kitchen. Well that's why because it made me feel like you so Frank Sinatra, that kind of oldies stuff. Um and and I mean, like Hannah Montanda was a big one for me because I wanted to be musician. I was going to school and like I just kind of you feel like you're living well, I'm excited for I hope. Yeah, always number one, you know, and I know a bit you're kind of like ready for that. I mean, I get it, like you're like,

I'm ready for the new stuff. Well, but I'm excited to like finish it out on this song. So hopefully it works me too, And I'm ready for the new stuff because I just think everyone's going to see a different picture. And congratulations on the Grammy nominations. Thank you? Are you going out for that? Thinks? I don't think so. I don't. I don't think so. I don't like to

do stuff. I just don't unless I have to do something at it, Like I'll go to the Like I'm on the board of the A C M S And I probably would go to the A C nless I was doing part of the TV. So yeah, I just don't. I just feel pressure that people have to talk to me in places. You're doing the I Heart Festival, Well yeah, but that's my company. I'm hosting it and playing. But that's my company this year. You are playing, which is which is awesome, because it's awesome. I've wanted to it's awesome.

It's because it's one It's not like an awards show where it's slow. It's like bam bam bam in the stage flips and I'm so excited we're playing it. We're but we're bringing out somebody to play with us that people are gonna flip out about, which is gonna be crazy. Um the first yeah, that was we We spent a lot of time with cards together, like we did, like

not even busses. And you know, we're both now to the point where we take busses to we're you know, and we're definitely different and you're a real life thing and I'm an entertainer. We entertained, but we get take busses now. Back in the day, we were taking a small van or an suv and driving like six hours. And now we're like, like Kelsey, get the catr on playing something while we drive for three hours, Gonna sit

the back and just play it forever. Ago. I mean, I feel like it's freaking radio show is twenty years old, and it's are you can have years old? I feel like, yeah, it's not four years yet, and then I like your record, you probably feel like it's again it's not ten years. But it's cool. It's been weird to watch you go from a baby to where you are now and the ups and downs and our ups and downs because we were really close and then not close and then really close.

Like but but through all of that, like I've always been like a call away regardless and the probably a time we're let's we're on the same label too, like Full of Close were also on the same record label, and I'm doing comedy projects with the label, like not even music and our lives and our career they're very they are, and that's why I was like, let me

see if I can see anything on the internet. I don't know about Kelsey, which is this is the weirdest Bobby cast because it's like I'm on with somebody from my show almost that I just know everything about, Like I almost know every answer to every question I'm gonna ask them, So it's difficult for me. I will always root for you. It's been it's been weird. It's been weird. But I just hope that you keep doing you because

at times it's hard not to do you. And I say that just in general, and I'm happy that you are. And I'm excited about the second record because I've heard some stuff and it's just different. It's different French record. I don't give opinions on that stuff anymore. I do, I thought I do, but yeah I don't do. You know. Yeah, it's a weird thing now because I have friends and even my girlfriend. I don't tell her what songs you know what I'm saying, let's talk about that. You can

talk about it if you want. But here's the thing that I tell her because she's you know, you know, putting together record. She's finally like, screw it, I'm just putting together my O on kind of record. She's like, I've done what they wanted me to do, and I've done. I've made singles that they wanted me to make. Again that that was a song. But now she's like, you know who I am. I'm I'm a I'm a country blues player. She's like, and this is what this is

the record I want to make. So she's making it and I listen to songs, but I don't go that's for the radio. My only talk with her is would I buy it? And I'll be like, you know what, I wouldn't buy that song, but I see where it would fit on a record. But there's a weird relationship and it's in a way. Even with you, if you were like, hey, what do you think I would be, I couldn't be like, oh that's radio. I'd be like, yeah, i'd buy it, or I wouldn't buy it. That's an

interesting perspective because I have to. I'm so you're you're biased, even if you don't want to be your bias. And then I go because she has songs, I'd be like, I would download that, and then she has songs be like, you know, I wouldn't, but I do see where it fits in this record that in her should recommend a couple of weeks. But um, it's a thing. Oh yeah, she's she makes me a normal human because I'm not, and she drags it out at me. Yeah, she's a

good human. And Morgan play does the same thing for you. It just introduces a different side of you, even to yourself. Yeah, where you're like, wow, I didn't realized i'd be that comfortable being like this. Yeah that's awesome. So we'll not good, but it's good. Well, congratulations, thanks man, And you know, if you win the Grammy, that's awesome, and if you don't, that's awesome. I'll wear a pretty dress and I'll sit

near Beyonce and that's enough. And when and here's the thing you have to again at times, take and look at it from far away. Let's say, odds are you're a man, neither one are gonna win. You're not gonna win, because it's just looking at the math of it. In two or three years, you'll look back and go, that was the coolest thing ever. Even though you're kind of gonna be a little bit sad when you don't win,

you're gonna look back and go. So just go. And it's something that I've had to learn how to do and just almost take mental pictures to remember how cool it is. You just started videoing everything on my phone, like every right, every like do you want people hack and steal your stuff? All the time? I get hacked all the time all the time. There was a right, it sucks. It's so stressful. It is so stressful. I had to call Twitter and they don't have a number

you look up in the on the internet. That had to be like, guy, does that need help because I'm getting hacked all the time all the time. Do they ever steal your music? I there's a live link on eBay right now of like half my next record, really, and there's nothing you can do. It's so frustrating. It's so frustrating. I'm like, if you hack my phone, you're gonna get a lot of pictures of my dog, which is fine, and my contacts, which is probably what people want.

You know. This is my address book, yeah, which is super annoying. You are cool, You are cool with your address book. I'm not. That's not what I'm do, you know, Hayley Steinfeld, I not, No, you should kind of like that song? Was that? No? I love that song and I met her maybe once. Um, but we're not. We're not buds and you need to be yet. That's a good song. I like that. That's a that's a Haley z I love That's Beaches in Town writing right now.

He is, and you know who he's writing with because Keith. But I was just okay. So I'm a huge Walker Hayes fan. I don't know if you know Walker. So he's opening for me on my comedy tour. The Internet my favorite have you heard shut Up? Kenny? I've heard listen have you heard shut Up? Kenny? It makes me want to never write another song. Ah Walker song made

me go why why? Is anybody's even trying, Like like, he's at the next level and he works in a tiny shed and he works on old, crappy equipment of producing equipment that's so old that when people come in there, you go, dude, I can't this doesn't match like with my current computers. But he he's a freak. Yeah. I don't even think we've met in person ever, but I just like randomly comment on and stuff and be like, hey,

you're good. It's just differently. The Halloween song he plays that with in Niketa things, the girl part, Oh my gosh, it's too good. No, it's it's like Halloween. You look at you go, this is gonna be dumb Halloween. But Walker has a song called Halloween, and it's like I don't have to pretend anymore. I can put all my my mask and my cakes and stuff down with you. And I'm like, it's just like that's that's the thing

that is song running and it's fun. And you're like, it's rare to hear and feel things anymore, like us too when we hear stuff all the time. But all that being said, thumbs up to you. This is just the beginning of it, and it's a roller coaster and you're gonna have you down, but you can have some huge ups and it's really cool to build a man to be able to watch and hopefully one day I'll get to see a picture of your wedding. That would be cool. Oh my gosh, a wedding. Yeah, that would

be cool. That's when you say no, you're going to be invited. You are well. I don't know if a wedding will happen, but if it does, of course you're invited. Man, you heard it here, tell us, tell Morgan us hello, and I hope, I hope everything is fantastic than you Kelsey Valerie? What episodes has been? You are episode? We've been trying to work this out for a while, but both of us have been gone. It worked out and I will say too, and I don't say this, and I will bring it up to people if they show

up and it's different. But they're about five of you ever that just show up by yourself, and that's so cool. Who two of the five were? You and Maren po both like, I'm just down, I don't have a made with me. Let's just talk and to me, that's that's a that's a cool human thing, like regardless of music or anything else. It's like, I'm just coming over. I'm not bringing my manager, I'm not bringing my people. Just

sit down a talk. And so when you showed up, I was like, Kelsey, gonna show up, but there are we also have mutual friends, so it would have been she dropped me off. Megan literally dropped me off like a mom. So yeah, it's good. I'm glad you can. Thanks for having me. All right, Kels Baleria, this has been Um, I know that boy cat, how do you feel? It went good? So fun. I don't know why you freaked out about the marathing, but what you said nothing even remote. My god, No, I don't know. I just

get really nervous people. People get weird and like, you know, and these chairs are comfortable, and you just start saying stuff, you know, And then I was rocking in my chair and I don't know what. All Right, we're gonna go, Thank you, Kelsey, and good luck with life next time